The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-06-30
Tip Turner, I Believe You Are an Hon
est Row


ten slip Of paper IN the window of
Mr.. Wards large grocery store
caught Tips eye rs be strolled slow
ly down the street without any def |
mite aim or purpose.
"My! How | would like to have
q nice place like that, and have q
chance to earn something" he
thought, wistfully; and then ami
mated by a sudden purpose, he
turned around after he had passed
the door, Strengthened himself up,
took his hands out of his pockets,
and putting on brisk, business
like air, entered the store.
"Mr. Ward, will you take me?"
he asked, walking up to the propri
etor, who was busy weighing sugar.
Got any referencesY"
The sharp, decided question
made Tips heart sink, and he re-
allied that he had no chance here.
mo, sir" he answered meekly,
and turned away. What reference
could he give, he thought bitterly
mo one would be willing to stake
much on my honesty, when Eve got
a father in jail for stealing" he
muttered, feeling as if his fathers
sin had cut him off forever from ris-
ing to anything better and higher
than his present shlftless life.
Tip Turner, will you run down
to Mr.. Wards and get me two dozen
of eggs? The boys are off playing
somewhere, and l haven't any one
to send"
Tips moody face frightened up
at Mrs. Merrill's pleasant voice,
and he took the basket from her
willingly, and promised to make
haste.
THE money is wrapped up in
bit of paper at the bottom of the
basket" said Mrs. Merrill, and as
Tip handed the basket to the clerk
be mentioned it to him.
The young man meant to take
the money out, but his attention
was divided between Tip and an
other customer, and so it happened
that he left the money where it had
been placed. He remembered it as
soon as the boy had gone out, and
going to his employer, told him,
so that the eggs might be charged.
Tip was half way back to Mrs.
| Merrill's when he heard a ringing
sound on the pavement, and silver
five-cent piece fell at his feet.
"Well now, where did that come
from?" exclaimed Tip, in surprise.
I'm mighty sure l didn't have any
loose money in my pockets
AS he stopped to pick it up an
other silver piece fell, and then the
boy noticed that the money had
been left in the bottom of the bas-
ket.
81 got these eggs for nothing
then" and Tip gathered the pen
MES up and put them in his pockei
for safe-keeping until he shoulo
each Mrs. MerriIl's. Once in his
pocket, the temptation came npor
aim 10 Keep them tnefe.
why not?' urged the tempter
It's the clerks own fault, and be
deserves to lose the money for being
so careless, Nobody will bcliev,
Won are honest anyway, SO what.
the use Of being so particular? Yor
might as well keep the money 9,
give it to any one else, and no one
could want i: more than you do"
Tip had always been an homes
boy in spite Of his many tempta-
tons and evil home influences, but
, this morning 1t seemed very hare
TO resist keeping the money.
"What's the use of being honest
when no one will trust youY' wen
on the tempter, and Tip nearly
yielded
Mrs, Merrill did not ask any
questions about the money, bu
thanked Tip for doing his errand
and gave him a rosy checked apple
and a handful Of cookies, SO Til
!eIt there was no chance of detec-
ton il he chose to keep the money
A hard struggle between righ'
J and wrong went on his heart, but
at last honesty triumphed. Tel
minutes later he marched triumph
antly into the store and put some
loose change into Mr Wards hand
Here's that egg money" he
said.
80 Mrs. Merrill sent it back, die
she?' asked Mr.. Ward.
mo, she didn't know nothing
about it. I brought it back my
self" Tip answered.
DO you suppose you could have
kept it without being found out?
asked Mr.. Ward, watching the boys
face keenly.
YES" ansvered TIP.
"You would have found out your
mistake fast enough e you haI
tried" answered Mr. Ward with {
grim smile. Tip Turner, believe
YOU are an honest boy, after all, and
I've a notion to give you chance
; for you are not as likely to get so
many as most boys. I'll try you ;
week, and if you suit you'll have q
good place"
And TIP dld'suit. Every day hC
proved his answering honesty anC
rose in his employers esteem anC
he never had reason to regret tina
he had conquered temptation
The Christian at Work.
The position of judge is an ex
/, ceedingly trying one.
What feat is the most trying t
2 the soldier? Defeat.